On Tim Kaine, remember that 4 years prior Obama only won Virginia by less than 4% (the only states closer were Ohio, Florida, and North Carolina). So there was a thought that Virginia may be ‘in play’. That was the big reason for the Kaine selection (though from all reports Hillary really wanted Sherrod Brown, but it was thought it wasn’t worth losing the Senate seat - as Kasich would have put in a Republican to replace Brown).
Atlanta mayor Bottoms tweeted she has no symptoms but tested positive for CV
So I’ve been giving this topic a lot more real estate in my brain than I probably should lately, but I’m now at the point where I think it’ll probably be Duckworth, which I’d be really happy with.
While I would still love Warren, I don’t think he’ll want to make anyone wonder why he went with an all-white ticket at this point.
And while Susan Rice is supremely qualified to take over should the worst happen, I don’t think he’ll want to make anyone wonder why he picked someone with no electoral experience, or picked someone with so much baggage (Benghazi!)
Other names that have popped up like Bass, Bottoms, Demings & Abrams run the risk of people wondering why he picked someone with so little tangible national or higher-level executive experience. He won’t want that either.
All that being said, it brings us down to Duckworth, Harris and Lujan-Grisham.
Harris’s downside is that she has those “law & order vibes” at a time when that’s just not trending well with the voters he needs. Plus, she’s from ultra-blue California. Her upside is name recognition, campaign experience, his personal relationship with her and that she’s African-American.
Lujan-Grisham’s downside is that she’s not very well known and she’s from a solid blue state. Upside is she’s a Latina with executive experience.
Which makes me think it may very well be Duckworth. The recent attacks from Tucker Carlson and the one-eyed congressman (can’t think of his name off the top of my head) seem to make me think the Covfefe crowd are nervous about her. She’s Midwestern, a disabled vet, PoC, not afraid to lob bombs at Trump, a newish mom, young, suburban, not at all scary for moderates. Her only downside of that she was born in Thailand, which opens her up to more birtherism. But I could also see Biden loving the symbolism of picking the junior senator from Illinois as his running mate.
I’m 85% expecting to see Biden-Duckworth signs popping up this summer/fall. Harris 10%, Lujan-Grisham with a 5% chance.
That, and all-senior-citizen. He’s gotta pick someone younger IMHO.
I can’t remember where the goofy trope / meme of {paraphrasing here} “you have great thoughts and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter” came from (maybe Chandler Bing? Homer Simpson? I forget) but I always enjoy reading your stuff.
I can’t argue with anything you’ve said regarding Duckworth - considering the last 48 hours, I’d almost love to see Biden choose her just to see Bowtie Tuckercarlson’s head explode on live TV, that miserable fuck.
It does kinda bum me out that Whitmer never caught much fire in the VP selection process (I suppose there’s still a non-zero chance that she gets picked, but it’s not something I’m willing to bet my 401k on).
I remember you being the first one who mentioned her name, and that was the first time that I (a lifelong Texan) had ever even heard her name, and after I researched your post for a bit, I was ready to push all my chips into the middle that she would be the one.
You guys have helped me think much more “outside the box” these last couple of years, that you don’t wanna take Elizabeth Warren out of that Senate seat, and watching Kamala Harris go scorched-earth on these corrupt pricks from the Attorney General seat would be Must-See TV.
So yeah, you’ve sold me on Tammy Duckworth. Let’s do this thing. And yes I’m a Katie Porter guy but I feel like if it was “her time” you guys would be talking about her much much more.
I hope Porter or Bottoms or maybe Whitmer or Harris become the first female President in 2024 or 2028, and I hope we’re all still around to see it. That’d be pretty fucking cool.
Preach it!
I bet Trump’s handlers are terrified that if it’s Duckworth, they won’t be able to stop him from mocking her war injuries.
Boom! Thanks man!
Duckworth was not captured like McCain so Trump should be OK with her.
Thanks for the kind words!
Funny thing about Duckworth. I remember the day after the 2016 election, telling my wife we needed to have AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka at the top of the ticket in 2020, and Tammy Duckworth as his running mate (may have even mentioned this here). Well anyway, Biden is probably as close to a Trumka-like candidate as I could’ve actually hoped for. But over the past few years, I’ve wavered from Duckworth to other more exciting veep candidates: Buttigieg, Warren, Demings, I fantasized about Abrams a little, flirted with Adm. Bill McRaven when a woman at the top of the ticket was a possibility…but here we are, less than four months until the election, and I’m right back where I started from on Nov. 9, 2016: rooting for Duckworth to be our vice president.
Biden-Duckworth! Let’s do this, Joe!
I guess you all sold me. Biden-Duckworth 2020. Maybe Duckworth-Castro 2024.
Since no one’s linked to it in this thread, here’s a link to Duckworth’s (paywalled) NYT body slam of Carlson.
Here’s just one of the money quotes:
Our nation deserves leaders mature and secure enough not to race-bait or swift-boat anyone who dares disagree with them. After these past four years, and especially after these past four months, it’s clearer than ever that we must choose public servants who will focus on the serious issues facing our country — from the spread of the coronavirus to systemic racism to foreign adversaries threatening our troops’ lives — rather than cynical bullies who use schoolyard tactics to distract from their own shortcomings.
Based on all I know, Duckworth would be a great choice. She would easily make mincemeat of Pence in any VP debate. There is also no way our current President would be able to keep himself from mocking her combat injuries in a way that would drive away even more people who voted for him in 2016.
He said he will name the pick in early August so that’s a few weeks away now.
I still think there is a good chance Pence gets dumped for woman who will also be religious.
She’s also taking it to Georgia governor Brian Kemp on the issue of her making it mandatory to wear masks in public Atlanta.
This is a plus for her in my book. Right now I’m hoping Biden picks her.
Or 2028. I myself fully expect two terms out of Biden. But then, I’ve been a supporter from Day One.
I think that being a center-left politician from the American South is an excellent qualification – she had to learn to deal with Republicans. And her age is perfect.
However, Val Demings’s story, as daughter of a janitor who want to a Jim Crow elementary school, is more inspiring. And looking at YouTubes, Demings has a plain folks spark, while Bottoms talks like a perfectly normal, highly intelligent – politician.
I realize that some here are more looking for someone to put Mike Pence in his place at the debate. But that’s not what wins elections. If anything, it’s what inspires shy Trumpers to risk their lives by going to vote. I also realize that Val’s police background, while reassuring to a swing voter like myself, is a turnoff for many here.
Plus, races tend to tighten as the election nears, and, in that case, Florida may be essential for Biden.
My head says – Susan Rice. My heart says Val Demings.
But the more likely choice of Harris will probably be fine.
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An embarrassment of riches?